U.S. patent number 5,203,455 [Application Number 07/906,520] was granted by the patent office on 1993-04-20 for package for zinc-air batteries.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Varta Batterie Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Helmut Hewelt, German Schulz.
United States Patent |
5,203,455 |
Hewelt , et al. |
April 20, 1993 |
Package for zinc-air batteries
Abstract
A push-through, blister card package for zinc-air batteries
includes a cardboard support to which is sealed a transparent
plastic foil with cup-shaped recesses for holding button cells. The
battery bases, which are provided with air supply holes, are
attached to a shared adhesive foil. When a battery is pushed
through the support, which is perforated in the region for battery
removal, the adhesive foil automatically detaches from the battery
while remaining an integral part of the package.
Inventors: |
Hewelt; Helmut (Ellwangen,
DE), Schulz; German (Ellwangen, DE) |
Assignee: |
Varta Batterie
Aktiengesellschaft (Hannover, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
6439128 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/906,520 |
Filed: |
June 30, 1992 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 26, 1991 [DE] |
|
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4128248 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/704; 206/460;
206/469; 206/471; 53/453 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
75/367 (20130101); B65D 2575/367 (20130101); B65D
2585/88 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
75/28 (20060101); B65D 75/36 (20060101); B65D
85/88 (20060101); B65D 073/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;53/474,453
;206/461,460,467,469,470,471,495,813,333 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Foster; Jimmy G.
Assistant Examiner: Ackun, Jr.; Jacob K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Weiser & Associates
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A package for zinc-air batteries each having a base and air
supply holes formed in the base, the package comprising a clear
plastic cover having cup-shaped recesses which substantially
conform to the shape of each battery, a rupturable support fastened
to the cover so that the batteries can be pushed through the
support to rupture said support, and a foil fastened between the
support and the cover and extending to regions of the support
through which the batteries can be pushed, wherein the foil
includes an adhesive coating for adhering the base of each battery
to said foil and for sealing the air supply holes, and wherein the
foil remains associated with the support after the batteries have
been pushed through and removed.
2. The package of claim 1 wherein the support includes perforation
lines conforming to the shape of the batteries in the regions
covered by the recesses.
3. The package of claim 2 wherein the support includes hollows
associated with the perforation lines.
4. The support of claim 1 wherein the foil is rosette shaped.
5. A method for forming the package of claim 1, comprising the
steps of:
attaching the batteries to the adhesive coating formed on the foil,
sealing the air supply holes;
attaching the foil and the batteries to the clear plastic cover so
that the batteries are received within the cup-shaped recesses
which substantially conform to the shape of each battery; and
attaching the support to the clear plastic cover so that the
support overlies the foil, and so that the batteries can be pushed
through the support for use.
6. A method for using the package of claim 1, which comprises the
steps of:
pushing a battery through the support; and
removing the battery from the foil while the foil remains
associated with the support and the cover after the battery has
been pushed through and removed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a package for zinc-air batteries.
Zinc-air batteries in the form of button cells have been
extensively used for entertainment electronics, pocket calculators
and especially hearing aids. This has made the packaging of these
mass-produced articles an important factor. On the one hand, such
packaging must be economical. On the other hand, such packaging
must have a pleasing appearance to stimulate consumer interest.
What is more, since today's consumer usually cannot expect to
receive personal advise (e.g., at a supermarket or department
store), the design of the package (and possibly any directions for
use printed on the package) constitutes a true marketing aid.
Much like pharmaceutical tablet packages, blister packages were
originally introduced for gas-tight button cells of the
rechargeable Ni/Cd system or the primary systems Ag.sub.2 O/Zn and
HgO/Zn. Often, these packages were comprised of two plastic shells
that fit together. One of the shells was divided into an annularly
arranged series of compartments for holding the batteries, which
could be turned relative to the other shell in such a way that each
of the battery compartments would, in succession, become aligned
with an opening in the opposing shell, allowing removal of a
battery from the package.
However, zinc-air batteries presented a special problem since the
air supply holes provided in the cathode case had to be protected
from the entrance of air and moisture until the cell was ready for
use (i.e., the package also had to serve as a suitable storage
container for the batteries). An example of a packaging unit
directed to this end is the strip package which is described in
DE-OS 36 30 926. In this package, the batteries are completely
protected from their surroundings by a tear-resistant, air-tight
and transparent plastic foil container including cup-shaped hollows
for housing the cells and an aluminum foil sealed to the cup-shaped
hollows. U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,708 describes a folding box which
serves as a packaging unit for zinc-air batteries, and which
includes a cardboard support with circular recesses for holding the
batteries, and a foil cover on the underside of the support which
adhesively receives the bases of the cells.
The desire to reduce the material and production costs of known
packages has often limited such packaging to a tag glued to the
bottom of the battery. The tag is then removed by hand before the
battery is placed into service. However, removal of the tag (e.g.,
by pulling on a small tab associated with the tag) can be rather
difficult, especially for the elderly and for frail individuals.
Furthermore, persons unfamiliar with this type of packaging will at
times try to use the battery without first removing the tag. Then,
thinking the inactive battery is defective, the cell is thrown away
in error.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to
provide a packaging unit for zinc-air batteries which would
eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages encountered in
activating the battery, yet which will allow for prolonged storage
and display of the cells in an attractive way.
This and other objects which will be apparent are achieved in
accordance with the present invention by providing a package for
zinc-air batteries having a sealing foil for adhesively receiving
each battery's base, thereby occluding the air supply holes formed
in the base, which includes a clear plastic cover having cup-shaped
recesses which substantially conform to the shape of each battery,
a support adhesively sealed to the clear plastic cover and which
permits the batteries to be pushed through the support for use, and
a foil fastened to the support and extending into areas of the
support through which the batteries can be pushed, wherein at least
the foil is provided with an adhesive coating for receiving the
bases of the batteries, and wherein the foil remains associated
with the support after a battery has been pushed through and
removed. Thus, the package of the present invention takes the form
of a strip-like blister pack with an integral adhesive seal. The
advantage of this package is that when a battery is pushed out of
the blister, the adhesive foil is automatically removed from the
cell, remaining with the package so that incorrect battery usage
cannot occur.
For further detail regarding a preferred package produced in
accordance with the present invention, reference is made to the
description which is provided below, taken in conjunction with the
following illustrations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the multiple package of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is an end view of the package of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the package of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, the package 1 is formed upon a glaze-coated
cardboard support 2 having an eye 3 for suspending the package 1
from a display. A transparent plastic foil 4 with cup-shaped
recesses 5 (i.e., blisters) for receiving and holding a plurality
of button cells 6 is sealed to the support 2. Free space on the
support can be used for labeling or decorative purposes (logos), if
desired.
Referring to FIG. 2, the air supply holes 7 in the bases of the
button cells 6 are sealed in air-tight fashion to a stripping foil
8, which underlies the button cells 6. The foil 8 serves the basic
function of the stripping and sealing foils (i.e., tabs) common to
batteries of this general type. To this end, the foil 8 is coated
on its upper surface with an appropriate adhesive 9, and the button
cells 6 are attached to the adhesive coating 9 of the foil 8,
retaining the button cells 6 to the foil 8 and sealing the air
supply holes 7.
Referring to FIG. 3, the stripping foil 8 also extends outwardly
from the center of the circular arrangement of button cells 6,
beneath the bases of the button cells 6, and around the regions of
the support 2 through which the button cells 6 can be pushed. As a
result, the outline of the stripping foil 8 resembles a rosette
having a number of tongue-shaped sections equal to the number of
button cells 6 which are mounted on the stripping foil 8.
In production, each blister 5 is positioned with its cup-shaped
opening turned upwardly. The stripping foil 8 is attached to the
bases of the button cells 6, and mounted to the plastic foil 4
(with an appropriate adhesive). The cardboard support 2 is then
sealed to the resulting assembly. In this fashion, the sealing
adhesive applied to the cardboard support 2 can produce a firm bond
between the cardboard support 2 and the stripping foil 8, while
leaving hollows for holding the button cells 6 in place.
The underside of the stripping foil 8 is also affected by sealing
of the cardboard support 2 to the plastic foil 4. The firm adhesive
bond of the stripping foil 8 to the cardboard support 2 can be
limited to the central regions located between the cup-shaped
recesses 5. In such case, the stripping foil 8 can rest freely on
the cardboard support 2 in those areas which are covered by the
cup-shaped recesses 5 of the plastic foil 4, and through which the
button cells 6 must be pushed for their removal from the package 1
(i.e., the tongue-shaped sections adhering to the bases of the
button cells).
In these regions, the cardboard support 2 is provided with
perforations 10, 11 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) that conform to the shape
of the button cells 6, which are supplemented by recesses 12 formed
in the cardboard support 2 in order to facilitate breaking
(separation) of the cardboard support 2 along a rupture line 11
developed when a button cell 6 is pushed through. As shown at the
right of FIG. 2, the button cell 6 initially adheres to the
stripping foil 8. However, the button cell 6 is easily removed from
the stripping foil 8 while the stripping foil 8 remains associated
with the cardboard support 2 as an integral part of the package
1.
As is best seen in FIG. 3, the recesses 12 in the cardboard support
2 form narrow windows with lens-shaped out-lines. Edge sections of
the button cells 6, or of the tongue-shaped segments of the
stripping foil 8 adhering to the bases of the button cells 6, are
visible through these openings. Since the undersides of these
tongue-shaped segments are free of the adhesive coating 9 (see FIG.
2), the user cannot get any adhesive on his or her fingers when the
button cell 6 is removed from the stripping foil 8.
Thus, the package 1 allows for the uncomplicated and correct
removal of button cells without the need for much force, while
ensuring that the button cells remain fresh, even during prolonged
storage.
It will be understood that various changes in the details,
materials and arrangement of parts which have been herein described
and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention
may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and
scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.
* * * * *